Scholarships for Indian Minority Students to Study Abroad in 2025-26

Indian minority students wanting to study abroad can now apply for scholarships. The minority scholarship for abroad studies can be fully funded or partially funded based on preference and depends on the scholarship you have applied for. The Indian government, the government of another country, or an external organisation usually funds these scholarships. In this blog, you will find the top scholarships for Indian minority students to study abroad. Keep reading to know about them in detail.

What is a Minority Scholarship for Studying Abroad? 

A minority scholarship is a financial aid program designed to support students belonging to socially, economically underrepresented communities. These scholarships help cover tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and other educational expenses for students who wish to study abroad. 

In India, minority communities recognised by the Government of India include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains. Several scholarships are funded by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), state governments, and international organisations to encourage higher education among these groups. 

Minority Scholarships for Abroad Studies Provided by the Indian Government

The Indian government offers a limited number of scholarships to minority students. However, these are the only scholarships you will find that are specifically meant for minority students. Below we have listed some of them. Ensure that you meet eligibility requirements before applying for these scholarships.

Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship Scheme for Minorities

The Chief Minister’s Overseas Scholarship is one of the top minority scholarships for abroad studies. This scholarship is only meant for people residing in Telangana state. This scholarship aims to assist minority community students to undertake higher education (postgraduate courses) abroad. 

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are as follows:

• You must be a resident of Telangana.
• Additionally, you must belong to a minority community.
• You must have cleared the TOEFL/IELTS, GRE/GMAT examinations.
• Moreover, you must have secured admission to study in a foreign university abroad.
• This scholarship is only available to 1 child from a single family. You will also not be considered for this award again. The reason is that this scholarship is only given once in a lifetime.
• You must also meet the age requirement. That is, you must be below the age of 35 (as of July 1st).
• You must have a valid passport, and your family income must be less than INR 5 lakh per annum.
• A postgraduate degree student must have secured at least 60% in the Management/Engineering/Agriculture Sciences/Humanities/Social Sciences/Medicine and Nursing field.
• Similarly, PhD students must also secure a minimum of 60% marks in their postgraduate studies in Management/Engineering/Agriculture Sciences/Humanities/Social Sciences/Medicine and Nursing fields.

Benefit: 

You can apply for this scholarship to study in the UK, US, Australia, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, South Korea, or France. The scholarship amount is paid in 2 instalments. That is,

• You will receive INR 10 lakh or the actual fee upon obtaining the study permit/I-94 card 
• In the next instalment, you will receive INR 10 lakh/actual fees after completing your 1st semester 
• This amount is given towards the living expenses and the tuition fees of the student 
• You will also become eligible for obtaining an education loan from any nationalised bank in India
• You can supplement your allowance by taking up a research or teaching assistantship
• Moreover, 1 a ticket to the study-abroad destination will be provided

National Overseas Scholarship for Minorities

The National Overseas Scholarship for Minorities is a scholarship provided by the Karnataka State government. This overseas scholarship for minority students is provided solely for the residents of Karnataka. Indian minority students can apply for the same to study for a master’s degree in any 1 of the QS top 500 universities. 

Eligibility:

The eligibility requirements for the National Overseas Scholarship for Minorities are as follows:

• You must be a resident of Karnataka.
• Additionally, you must have received an offer letter to study in any of the QS World Ranking top 500 universities. 
• You must be enrolled in a master’s program abroad and must be an Indian minority. 
• Your annual family income must be less than INR 6 lakh or INR 6 lakh to 15 lakh.

Benefit: 

The scholarship benefit is an amount of 20 lakh for 2 years for students with a family income of less than INR 6 lakh. Those who have a family income between INR 6 lakh to INR 15 lakh will receive INR 10 lakh for 2 years.

Also Read: Fully Funded Scholarships in USA

Overseas Scholarship Funded By the Indian Government 

Apart from the above scholarships, the Indian government provides several other scholarships that you can apply for. These scholarships are not minority scholarships for abroad studies. Any students who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for the award. This includes Indian minorities as well. Below, we have mentioned the overseas scholarships funded by the Indian Government.

Scholarship	Level of Study	Benefit
Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships	Master’s	Covers your tuition fees and living expenses. A travel allowance is provided. You can even receive health insurance
The JN Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians	PhD	Get a 2% simple interest rate on the loan. Additionally, you will receive travel grants and gift awards.
The Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust	Academic, professional research and doctoral students	Get a monthly stipend, visa fee and health insurance

Best Scholarships for Indian Minority Students to Study Abroad

Discover some of the most prestigious and fully funded scholarships available for Indian minority students to pursue higher education abroad. These programs provide financial support, global exposure, and equal opportunities to excel at top international universities.

The best overseas scholarships for minority students are listed below.

Scholarship	Country	Level of Study	Benefit
Rhodes Scholarship	UK	Postgraduate studies at Oxford	Fully funding
Chevening Scholarship	UK	Postgraduate studies	Fully funding
Felix Scholarship	UK	MA/PhD	Fully funding
Great scholarships	UK	Postgraduate taught programme	Fully funding (1 year)
Ontario Graduate Scholarships	Canada	Master’s/doctoral	Up to  CAD 15,000 per year
Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship	Australia	Masters/PhD	1 year of tuition fees, living expenses, and 1-way travel expense is covered
Griffith Remarkable Scholarship	Australia	Masters/PhD	Covers 50% of the tuition fees
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program	Multiple (Canada, UK, France, etc)	Master’s	Covers tuition fees and living expenses
Inlaks Scholarship	Multiple	Master’s /PhD	1 year of tuition fees, living expenses, and 1 way travel expense is covered

Note: These scholarships are provided by an external organisation. For example, the government of a country or a university. Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can apply for these scholarships.

To learn about fully-funded scholarships abroad, watch the video below:

How to Apply for a Minority Scholarship for Abroad Studies?

There are certain steps that one needs to follow while applying for minority scholarships. Follow the steps below to apply for a minority scholarship for abroad studies:

• First, decide on the course, country, and university you want to study in
• Next, apply for admission to a selected university and receive an offer letter 
• Select the scholarship you are interested in and apply for it 
• Ensure that you are applying for the scholarship within the deadline
• Gather relevant documents and upload them for the application process
• Once you have filled out the application form, your profile will be taken into consideration
• The scholarship provider will let you know the results 

Also Read: 6 Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia for International Students 

Tips to Strengthen Your Scholarship Application

Crafting a winning scholarship application requires more than just meeting eligibility criteria. The section offers practical tips and proven strategies to help you present a strong profile, write impactful statements, and stand out from other applications when applying for minority scholarships to study abroad. Here are some of the tips to strengthen your scholarship application: 

• Write a strong personal statement that highlights your goals, academic achievements, and community contributions.
• Obtain authentic recommendation letters from professors or employers.
• Ensure your academic score meets the eligibility standards. 
• Apply well before deadlines to avoid last-minute issues.
• Prepare for the interview confidently by understanding the mission and values of the scholarship program. 

How can I get a full scholarship to study abroad?

There are several fully funded scholarships available. Therefore, the first step you need to take is to decide on the scholarships you want to apply for. Ensure that you know which course you want to study and in which country. 

• Apply for the selected course of study and obtain an offer letter
• If the scholarship requires an application, apply for the same before the deadline
• Provide accurate information and upload relevant documents. Also, ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements before applying
• After you have filled out the application form, wait for a confirmation email
• The university/organisation will let you know the outcome of your application.

Pursuing higher education abroad can be life-changing, and minority scholarships for international studies make this dream achievable for students who might otherwise face financial or social limitations. Whether funded by the Indian government, international bodies, or universities, these scholarships provide a stepping stone toward academic excellence, cultural exposures and global leadership. 

FAQs

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These are the Scholarships for Indian Minority Students to Study Abroad. Want to know more about scholarships? Consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.